Irvington Schools Adopt $54M Budget, Seek Tax Cap Override

IRVINGTON, N.Y. – A proposed $54 million budget from the Irvington Union Free School District would increase the tax rate by 4.85 percent, which is over the property tax cap.

A proposed $54 million budget from the Irvington Union Free School District would increase the tax rate by 4.85 percent, which is over the property tax cap.
Photo Credit: *File Photo*

by Meredith Shamburger

04/26/2013 5:00 a.m.

Irvington school officials unanimously adopted the budget Tuesday, saying the tax cap override was necessary this year to preserve the district's academic excellence.

A budget hearing is scheduled for the next Board of Education meeting on May 7. The budget vote is set for May 21.

“I feel this was a prudent budget,” school board President Robert Grados said during Tuesday's Board of Education meeting, adding officials made a tough decision to go over the tax cap. “I feel this puts our kids ahead of merely trying to solve for a tax dollar line item. None of us on the board feel that we're going to be in this position next year where we need to go over the tax cap again.”

For the budget to pass, 60 percent of voters will need to approve it because it is $1.2 million over the tax cap. The proposed budget is a 5.7 percent increase from last year's budget and includes some staff and program additions.

Superintendent Kristopher Harrison said the revised budget adds 0.5 percent in the guidance department, converts three 10-month clerical positions to 12-month positions, increases high school electives, eliminates a maintenance position and keeps bus monitors.

Harrison said the budget allows the district “to be able to continue to invest in the quality of education we value for our children.”

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